Extension of the scapulohumeral joint increases the likelihood of success of centesis of the bursa of the biceps brachii tendon of horses

The accuracy of a technique for centesis of the bicipital bursa using a 9 cm, spinal needle inserted through the tendon of the biceps brachii muscle was evaluated. A veterinary radiologist who had no previous experience of performing centesis of the bicipital bursa and an equine clinician who had little experience in performing the procedure, attempted to inject a solution of aqueous radiopaque contrast medium into the bicipital bursae of 8 horses using an approach in which the bursa was accessed by directing a needle through the tendon of origin of the biceps brachii muscle until cartilage in the lateral portion of the intertubercular groove was contacted. Centesis of the bicipital bursa using this approach in horses having no signs of disease of the bursa was consistently successful if the cubital joint was flexed and the scapulohumoral joint extended.     

Avulsion of the origin of the tendon of the extensor digitalis longus muscle in a Dobermann pinscher

Avulsion of the tendon of the extensor digitalis longus muscle is a rare condition in young, large breed dogs or as a consequence of chronic lateral patellar luxation in adult dogs. Current technique of fixation consists into reattaching the fragment with a lag screw at its origin in the extensor fossa of the lateral femur condyle. If the fragment was considered too friable and reactive to be reattached, it was amputated and the tendon was sutured to the joint capsula. In this present case a adaptation screw with a washer was inserted distally to the sulcus extensorius through the tendon. The proximal part of the tendon was sutured to the joint capsula. The postoperative result was excellent, with recovery of full function of the Musculus extensor digitalis longus.     

Ultrasonographic examination of the caecum and the proximal and spiral ansa of the colon of cattle

The large intestine of 10 cows was examined from the right abdominal wall with a 3.5 MHz linear transducer. The cows were then slaughtered, and the organs were re-examined in a water bath. The caecum was visualised from the middle region of the abdominal wall. It ran caudo-cranially, varied in diameter from 5.2 to 18.0 cm and was situated immediately adjacent to the abdominal wall. The lateral wall of the caecum appeared as a thick, echogenic, crescent-shaped line. It could be visualised as far cranially as the 12th intercostal space. Although its junction could not be identified, the proximal ansa of the colon was recognised on the basis of its anatomical position and its diameter, which was smaller than that of the caecum. The spiral ansa of the colon and the descending colon were situated dorsal to the caecum and could be identified by moving the transducer horizontally along the abdominal wall to the last rib. The spiral ansa of the colon was situated ventral to the descending colon, and its walls appeared as thick echogenic lines. In a contracted state, the spiral colon had the appearance of a garland.     

Establishing the spread of bluetongue virus at the end of the 2006 epidemic in Belgium

Bluetongue (BT) was notified for the first time in several Northern European countries in August 2006. The first reported outbreaks of BT were confirmed in herds located near the place where Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany share borders. The disease was rapidly and widely disseminated throughout Belgium in both sheep and cattle herds. During the epidemic, case reporting by the Veterinary Authorities relied almost exclusively on the identification of herds with confirmed clinical infected ruminants. A cross-sectional serological survey targeting all Belgian ruminants was then undertaken during the vector-free season. The first objective of this study was to provide unbiased estimates of BT-seroprevalence for different regions of Belgium. Since under-reporting was suspected during the epidemic, a second goal was to compare the final dispersion of the virus based on the seroprevalence estimates to the dispersion of the confirmed clinical cases which were notified in Belgium, in order to estimate the accuracy of the case detection based on clinical suspicion. True within-herd seroprevalence was estimated based on a logistic-normal regression model with prior specification on the diagnostic test's sensitivity and specificity. The model was fitted in a Bayesian framework. Herd seroprevalence was estimated using a logistic regression model. To study the linear correlation between the BT winter screening data and the case-herds data, the linear predicted values for the herd prevalence were compared and the Pearson correlation coefficient was estimated. The overall herd and true within-herd seroprevalences were estimated at 83.3 (79.2-87.0) and 23.8 (20.1-28.1)%, respectively. BT seropositivity was shown to be widely but unevenly distributed throughout Belgium, with a gradient decreasing towards the south and the west of the country. The analysis has shown there was a strong correlation between the outbreak data and the data from the survey (r=0.73, p<0.0001). The case detection system based on clinical suspicion underestimated the real impact of the epidemic, but indicated an accurate spatial distribution of the virus at the end of the epidemic.     

Value of the pinnal-pedal reflex in the diagnosis of canine scabies

The potential value of the pinnal-pedal scratch reflex as an aid to diagnosing canine scabies was assessed in 588 dogs with skin disease. The reflex was assessed by vigorously rubbing the tip of one earflap on to the base of the ear for five seconds, and it was considered positive if the ipsilateral hind leg made a scratching movement. A diagnosis of scabies was based on the dog's history, a physical examination and either positive skin scrapings or the complete resolution of pruritus and dermatitis after treatment with ivermectin or milbemycin, with no relapse for at least 12 months. Scabies was diagnosed in 55 of the dogs, allergic skin disease in 463, and 70 had other miscellaneous skin diseases. There was a positive pinnal-pedal scratch reflex in 45 (82 per cent) of the 55 dogs with scabies. Forty (73 per cent) of the dogs with scabies had pinnal dermatitis, and 36 (90 per cent) of these had a positive pinnal-pedal scratch reflex. There was a positive pinnal-pedal scratch reflex in 33 (6.2 per cent) of the other 533 dogs. On the basis of these results, the specificity of testing for scabies by the pinnal-pedal scratch reflex was 93.8 per cent, and the sensitivity was 81.8 per cent The test's positive predictive value was 0.57 and its negative predictive value was 0.98.     

Morphological Characteristics of the Temporomandibular Joint in the Pouch Young of the Tasmanian Devil

We recently reported the absence of the articular disc, which is a constant structure in mammals, in the temporomandibular joint of the adult Tasmanian devil. However, whether the articular disc disappears with growth of the animal was unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether a pouch young of the Tasmanian devil has the articular disc. The temporomandibular joint of a fresh carcass of the pouch young, whose crown–rump length was 43 mm, was examined microscopically and by microcomputed tomography. The absence of the articular disc in the pouch young temporomandibular joint was histologically confirmed. It is suggested that the articular disc of the Tasmanian devil is naturally absent.     

Ultrastructure of the double and multiple flagella of the sperm of the drake]

The structure of double and multiple flagella of the spermatozoa of a drake was investigated. In spermatozoa with this defect one or two implantation pits were observed in the head of the spermatozoon with one or two proximal centrioles situated in the extended base of the nucleus. The structure of the proximal centrioles was frequently disturbed. Distal centrioles were placed separately without any marked figural or structural disturbance. The mitochondrial sheath was formed around both or more flagella, and between the flagella only one line of mitochondria was usually found. The ring showed defects in shape and changes in the deposition. An amorphous sheath was formed around each flagellum separately without any marked defects. In single cases insignificant changes were recorded in the arrangement of fibrils of the axial bundle.     

Topography of ganglion cells in the retina of the horse

Topography of ganglion cells in the retina of the horse (Thoroughbred) was analyzed in the wholemount retina stained with cresyl violet, and a total number of ganglion cells were estimated. Sizes of ganglion cells were also measured and size spectra were analysed. The main results showed that: (1) a common point in 4 wholemount retinae, based on cell densities and retinal locations, was that a retina could be divided into 5 regions, namely visual streak, nasal, temporal, dorsal and ventral region to the visual streak. A maximum cell density of 4,000 cells/mm2 was found in the visual streak. And a total number of ganglion cells was estimated in a range of 398 x 10(3) - 469 x 10(3), with a mean of 441 x 10(3) +/- 31 x 10(3) (n=4). (2) cell sizes were measured as the mean lengths of the major and minor axes of the somas, and were in a range of 5-53.8 microm. The lowest mean diameter was 14.0 microm (+/- 3.7) in the visual streak and the highest was 25.9 microm (+/- 7.6) in the ventral region. Cell size spectra were unimodal and positively skewed. It is expected that these analyses will provide an anatomical and physiological background for further study of the visual system in the horse.     

Elective inversion of the distal ileal stump into the caecum of the horse

The distal 30 to 40 cm of the ileum cannot be exteriorized through a midline laparotomy incision because of its close anatomical association with the base of the caecum. A method was developed to deal with those cases where this segment of small intestine was involved in an avascular, necrotic process and therefore required resection. The technique involves inverting the distal stump of ileum into the lumen of the caecum and then performing a routine ileocaecal or jejunocaecal anastomosis. This avoids the risk of peritonitis if a Parker-Kerr oversew of the necrotic ileal stump should dehisce. The technique was performed on five clinically normal horses and on four horses in which the terminal 30 to 40 cm of the ileum was necrotic. The postoperative clinical findings and autopsy results of these horses are discussed.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse

The present study examined the ultrastructure of the choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle of the horse. The material was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 m sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.3, processed and analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The choroid plexus was characterized by regions with a predominance of villi, which resembled finger-like projections or bunches of grapes, and others where straight and uniform folds predominated. Epithelial cells projected into the ventricle and large amounts of cilia and microvilli were observed on their surface. The choroid glomus corresponded to a dilatation of the choroid plexus and was characterized by blood vessels of different calibres surrounded by connective tissue.     

Physeal form of the longbones of the foal

The possible relationship between physeal diseases and physeal form prompted investigation of change in steepness of the physis in young foals. The distal and proximal aspects of the longbones were sawn sagittally in the right and frontally in the left bones. The slabs were washed to remove saw debris, arranged in order and inspected. The proximal physes had a flat or gently arched form, without obvious inclination. In the distal physes there were distinct inclinations. Inspection of an identical slab from the medial aspect of the distal radius of two series of foals of different breeds showed that the degree of inclination of the physis with respect to the long axis of the bone increased with age. In a further series of foals, the angle of inclination was measured from radiographs of identical sagittal and frontal slabs of the distal radius. A line drawn through the secondary spongiosa was produced to intersect a line drawn along the physis where it was mostly steeply inclined, and the angle measured. The angle decreased (physeal inclination increased) with increasing age, up to 35–90 days. The steepness in the lateral aspect of the physis was similar to that in the medial aspect, although evident in a different plane.     

Influence of food restriction and of the presence of chicks on the reproductive system of the domestic hen

An experiment was conducted with 4 groups of hens: a control group of laying hens, a group subjected to food deprivation for 7 d, a group subjected to food deprivation for 7 d, then re-fed for 10 d and a group subjected to food deprivation for 7 d then re-fed for 10 d with two chicks per hen introduced during the last 7 d of refeeding. Food deprivation provoked the involution of the oviduct and ovarian regression, as well as a decrease in the plasma concentrations of luteinising hormone (LH) and sex steroids (progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol). After 3 d of re-feeding, there was a significant increase in the plasma concentrations of LH and steroid hormones. This phenomenon was even more marked after 10 d of re-feeding; most of the hens of the third group which were not given chicks, were at the point of lay. The presence of chicks resulted in the expression of maternal behaviour and suppressed a rapid return to laying. This was especially marked in hens showing typical maternal behaviour traits, for which the morphological and endocrine measurements indicated a decrease in the activity of the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-gonadal axis.     

The Anatomy of the Arterial Supply of the Thoracic Limb of the Porcupine (Hystrix cristata)

The aim of this study was to investigate the anatomy of the arterial supply and branches of the thoracic limb of the porcupine. With this aim, five (three male and two female) adult porcupines were used. The vascular tree of the thoracic limb was injected through the common carotid arteries with coloured latex. The a. thoracica externa arose from the a. axillaris at the level of the fourth rib. It divided into two branches and went to the m. cutaneus trunci and the m. pectoralis ascendens. The a. subscapularis came off the a. thoracodorsalis. Later, the a. circumflexa humeri caudalis et cranialis, the three muscular branches and the a. circumflexa scapulae arose from the a. subscapularis. The a. profunda brachii arose together with the a. bicipitalis from the same truncus. The a. collateralis ulnaris left from the a. brachialis independently. Rete carpi dorsale was formed by the a. radialis. the r. carpeus dorsalis of the a. collateralis ulnaris and the a. interossea caudalis. Arcus palmaris profundus was formed by the r. profundus of the a. interossea caudalis and the r. palmaris profundus of the a. radialis. In conclusion, despite a partial resemblance to that in the rat, the distribution of the thoracic limb arteries in the porcupine was found to be completely different from that of other mammals. These findings represent, to our knowledge, the first study on the distribution of thoracic limb arteries in the porcupine.     

陕北白绒山羊繁育中心羊场绒山羊日粮的评价

试验选择陕北白绒山羊繁育中心羊场的成年健康母羊（怀孕前期）16只,育成母羊13只,育成公羊13只,空腹称重。测定每只羊1d的采食量,计算其摄入的营养成分含量,并与原苏联绒用山羊饲养标准比较,进行饲养水平评价。结果显示,与饲养标准比较,陕北白绒山羊繁育中心羊场的育成母羊代谢能高2．68MJ,粗蛋白低59．29g,钙低3．00g,磷低1．52g;育成公羊代谢能高3．47MJ,粗蛋白低81．92g,钙低4．42g,磷低2．62g;成年母羊代谢能高2．51MJ,粗蛋白低91．33g,钙低3．09g,磷低1．93g。结合羊的体况综合评价饲养水平基本合理,但尚需要按饲养标准增加粗蛋白、钙、磷等营养物质的供给量。     

Isolation of the fifth component of the bovine complement system

Bovine C5 has been isolated from fresh bovine serum by a five-step procedure: polyethylene glycol precipitation, sequential ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and CM-Sephadex, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The purified C5 was a protein of apparent molecular weight 202,000 +/- 9,000 composed of two chains: an alpha-chain of molecular weight 127,000 +/- 5,000 and a beta-chain of molecular weight 74,000 +/- 2,000. The alpha-chain was cleaved by Sepharose-CVF.Bb (a cobra venom factor (CVF)-induced C3/C5 alternative pathway convertase) in the absence of any C3 or C3b. The monocarboxylic acid form of K-76, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from the culture filtrates of Stachybotris complementi, inhibited the alternative pathway of bovine serum, and the inhibited hemolytic activity was restored, in a dose dependent manner, by bovine C5. This provided the basis for a C5 functional assay throughout the purification procedure. The purified C5 showed species specificity and was functionally distinct from bovine C3.     

A field investigation of the use of the pedometer for the early detection of lameness in cattle

The efficacy of the pedometer to predict lameness earlier than the appearance of the clinical signs in a herd of dairy cows was investigated by correlating pedometric activity (PA) with clinical cases of lameness. The computer program was set to identify cows with a reduction of 5% or more in PA compared with their own previous 10 days average; these animals were then examined for clinical lameness. At the same time, every lame cow was checked to see if and when its PA was reduced. Forty-six cows showed a reduced PA; 38 cases of lameness were identified by either a reduction in PA or clinical observation; of these, 21 lame cows (45.7%) showed a reduction in PA of 5% or more, 7 to 10 days prior to the appearance of clinical signs. This cohort comprised 55.3% of the lame cows. In 92% of the lame cows identified by PA, the decrease was above 15%.     

Anatomy of the blood supply to the flank of the sheep

The anatomy of the a circumflexa ilium profunda supplying the flank of the sheep was investigated in 25 sheep. Two constant branches were identified by dissection and angiography, and the cutaneous areas they supply identified. The arterial system was put to two separate experimental uses successfully.     

A morphometric comparative study of the medial geniculate body of the rabbit and the fox

SUMMARY: Unbiased stereological methods were used to morphometrically examine and compare the medial geniculate body (MGB) of two species from different mammalian orders. The MGB had a similar nuclear pattern, and it was parcelled into three major cytoarchitectural areas: the dorsal nucleus (MGd), the ventral nucleus (MGv) and the medial nucleus (MGm). The MGd was predominant in the fox, where it contributed nearly 50% to the total MGB volume, while in the rabbit, the MGv was insignificantly larger than the MGd. In both species, the percentage contribution of the MGm was the lowest. The MGd in the fox was also characterized by twice as many neurons per mm(3) as in the rabbit, whereas a reverse proportion was observed in the MGm, although the numerical density in the MGv was very similar in both species. The total number of MGB neurons in the fox was over twice higher than that in the rabbit. The variability in the percentage contribution of the MGd, MGv and MGm cells to the total neuronal population of the MGB was different in both mammals. In the rabbit, there was a larger contribution from the MGv and MGm, while in the fox, the MGd was predominant. These data demonstrate that the main areas of the MGB complex differ in terms of the morphometric characteristics in both species. Our results also show that the negative correlation between the volume and numerical density in the sensory centres of the brain might not be as distinct as in the non-sensory brain structures.     

Comparison of the influence of different anesthetic protocols in the development of post-anesthetic arrhythmia in the dog

Post-anesthetic holter monitoring was performed in 2 patient groups in order to compare the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias as a result of different anesthetic protocols. The 2 groups differed in their anesthetic protocol. Both groups received levomethadone as pre-anesthetic. The dogs in group A (n = 30) additionally received diazepam, the dogs in group B (n = 30) received propofol instead. Anesthesia was maintained by isoflurane in group A and a propofol constant rate infusion in group B. In each patient 2 holter monitorings were performed. The first recording began directly after anesthesia. As a comparison a second recording was performed on the 5th post-operative day. The recorded number of arrhythmias was low and no statistical difference was demonstrated between the 2 patient groups.     

A case of adenocarcinoma of the endometrium extending into the leiomyoma of the uterus in a rabbit

In a pet rabbit, 2 tumor masses one on each horn were macroscopically seen in the wall of the uterus. On light microscopic examination, the right horn mass consisted of an admixture of neoplastic epithelial and mesenchymal element. The epithelial element was composed of neoplastic epithelial cells with numerous mitotic figures and formed varied sizes of acini, glandular, and solid structures. The tumor was diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma of the endometrium. The mesenchymal element was composed of well-differentiated smooth muscle cells and was diagnosed as a leiomyoma. While adenocarcinoma cells formed a protrusive mass in the uterine lumen, they also showed an extension into the leiomyoma of the myometrium. By immunohistochemistry, adenocarcinoma stained positive for cytokeratin (MNF116) and leiomyoma stained positive for smooth muscle actin, showing a substantial difference in the cytological nature of these tumor cells. The results may give a further evidence supporting the narrative of the tumor development that an adenocarcinoma of the endometrium extended into leiomyoma of the uterus. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report describing this type of combination of two independent tumors in a pet rabbit.